Colonial Theatre Banks On Its Future

With the sunlight turning golden at the onset of dusk, a
collection of film fans and local dignitaries gathered in front of the gleaming
marquee of Phoenixville's Colonial
Theatre to mark a major step in its ongoing success.

The ribbon-cutting, which temporarily halted rush-hour
traffic on Bridge Street, launched a new phase for the historic movie palace.

In 2011, the theater bought the property next door, the
former site of the National Bank of Phoenixville. When I was onsite at the
Colonial in 2014, covering the yearly Blobfest, I toured
the new space, which still had drywall partitions from its life as a
newspaper office. The building is now a shell, stripped to its wooden beams,
iron supports and concrete floors.

The public event had a dual purpose: celebrating this clean
slate, from which a series of new screening rooms will arise, and opening the
fundraising phase, with a goal of $8 million.

Mary Foote, the Colonial's founding Executive Director, took
the crowd through a brief history of the theater: "Over the past 20 years," she
said. "We have definitely proven that The Colonial was worth saving," referring
to the original plan to keep the movies rolling even when the structure needed
significant work. "We raised that original $2 million little by little, and
we're going to continue in that revitalization. Just turning the marquee lights
on - and holding Blobfest - immediately raised attendance by 30 percent."

Since that reopening, Foote said, more than a half million
people have purchased tickets, grabbed a bag of hot popcorn and settled into a
plush seat for an art film, classic revival, new release or live performance.

The addition of the 1925 bank will broaden and deepen The
Colonial's programming options. Plans call for a new lobby, two additional
screens, a catering kitchen, an elevator to the building's three stories and a performer's
dressing room in the former vault. The bank's signature skylight will be
refurbished to brighten the stunning entryway.

U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., offered the
following observation: "If you were to go along the four blocks here, in the
last 15 years, every single one of these buildings has a new story to it. The
story relates to the revitalization of Phoenixville. I feel that someday they
are going to write a textbook about how to successfully go about revitalizing
an old steel town, and bring it back and enhance it, and provide a cultural
vibrancy and an economic revitalization that is not just good for the downtown,
but the overall region."

Kurt Imhof, speaking on behalf of U.S. Senator Robert Casey,
Jr., congratulated all the participants before humorously reflecting on the
venue's past, saying: "The significance of The Colonial Theater in the
entertainment industry is deep. Harry Houdini performed here. And then there's
the connection with The Blob. There's
probably a current political joke in there somewhere, but I'll leave that to
someone more humorous than I am."

Borough Council President James Kovaleski had a poignant
recollection about moving to Phoenixville as a twenty-something and finding
limited opportunity for socializing.

"My girlfriend and I would come to the downtown district and
find little else to do other than the theater. So we would see a movie
together. And eventually, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. And now,
all these years later, I want to thank the Colonial and Phoenixville for helping
make me a very happy man."

The board of The Colonial Theatre recognizes that work still
needs to be done on the auditorium of the original building. Its members see
both projects working in tandem, with the increased vitality brought on by the
bank building seeding ongoing improvements in the theater.

Together, the two cultural outlets are expected to deepen
the appeal of Phoenixville, providing economic impact and community benefit for
all. Projections show that use of the former bank building will triple theater
attendance in three years. It will also open additional revenue streams, with
the opportunity to rent flexible event space.

"The Colonial Theater is an iconic building of our historic
past," said the promotional material accompanying the fundraising effort. "It
has played a central role in the Phoenixville we know today. The project will
protect it for another hundred years and extend that protection to a second,
large historic building."

The continuing revitalization of Phoenixville is burnishing
its reputation as a true destination. The walkable downtown district has a
number of recommendable restaurants, pubs and specialty shops, including Bridge
Street Chocolates. Nearby accommodations include the Hampton
Inn & Suites Valley Forge/Oaks and Hilton
Garden Inn Valley Forge/Oaks. For full details on all Montgomery County
hotels, B&Bs and inns, check the resources on our website.

Author: Dan Weckerly - VFTCB Communications Manager

Dan Weckerly, VFTCB Communications Manager, has lived in Montgomery
County since 1988 but is still discovering its many treasures, which
provides the basis for The Pursuit. He is well-traveled across
the U.S. and even lived in London, but more commonly shares his
household with a wife of more than 25 years, three daughters and a boisterous
Labrador Retriever.